Missed chances hurt Blues in clash against Newtown

FEAR THE BEARD: Macquarie captain Joe Haylock got through 14 overs for his team on Saturday against Newtown. Photo: BELINDA SOOLE

Dropped chances have hurt Macquarie on day one of their second grade clash with Newtown at Lady Cutler 3.

The Blues bowled well in patches on Saturday, but let the Tigers off the hook on multiple occasions and in the end it means they will be chasing 249 for victory this weekend.

Half-centuries to Jono Lowe (61) and Tom Barber (51), combined with some late hitting from Dan Flannery (32), Jesse Spang (31) and Daniel Coen (25) helped Newtown recover from 3-40 to make 248 before they were bowled out in the last over of the day.

Macquarie’s representative bowler Emma Hughes made a great start to her 2017/18 local campaign, finishing with the impressive figures of 3-23 off 11.3 overs, while Jon Fuller and new recruit Harry Brennan each bagged two wickets.

Joe Haylock, Matt Ball and Zain Kahn also claimed a wicket each.

The Blues will take to the crease from 1pm this Saturday, and will need to bat well to chase down the target.

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The clock was wound back on Saturday as a couple of South Dubbo’s stalwarts fired up in second grade.

Greg Rummans and John Colwell each banged scores of 68 to help the Hornets to a first innings score of 233 in their clash with RSL-Colts.

In reply, Colts will resume on 0-3 this week, with Sam Campbell (2no) and Ryan Davies (0no) at the crease.

Things looked shaky for Souths when they were reduced to 5-87 half-way through the day’s play.

But a 109-run stand between Colwell and Rummans steading the ship.

When Colwell fell to the spin of Nathan Jones, it sparked a late-order collapse which saw the last five wickets fall for just 37 runs.

Jones was the pick of the Colts bowlers, taking 4-48 from 16 overs and hew was backed up by Jakke Gardiner (2-21 off 11) and Davies (2-38 off seven).

The ever-reliable Geoff Wheeler was again solid with the new ball and took 1-33 off 10 overs.

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Meanwhile, the runs also flowed freely in the other second grade clash on Saturday, with Rugby making 8-240 in their clash with CYMS.

Some hard-hitting down the order from Jake Bruce (62no) helped his side rally from 6-116 to post a competitive total.

Several other Rugby batsmen made starts but couldn’t go on with the job, including Peter Karydis (31), Andrew Rose (31) and Glenn Shepherd (27), the latter falling to the unusual dismissal type of hit wicket.

For the Cougars, it was their next generation that shined brightest with the ball.

Opening bowler Sam Knaggs bowled very economically and finished with figures of 3-14 off a 10-over spell that included six maidens, while Patrick Nelson snared 3-72 off 16 overs.